Hey, I know I have not posted here in a while... I just wanted to touch base...
I have always wanted the 1968 firebird, my second child was due 2 weeks before I purchased the car and I need a car to drive my first around for the little time that I did need a car… So I saw the car on ebay and purchased it sight unseen except for photos. I even tod the A**hole why I needed the car ect... And he said it was perfectly safe...
After speaking with the man I purchased from he said it was great except it need paint and one skin for a door... And that he took it to his body shop and got a quote for $3,500.00 to do the work... He said the car was in great shape ect..... I like an a dumbass took his word on it…
About 2 weeks later the car arrived from California, the car is a total mess and I am into it for about 14,000.00. I cannot afford to restore the car nor do I have the time (mind you my wife wants to divorce me and I have a 2 week old and a 2 ½ year old..). I am trying to unload the car for 7,900.00 so I can purchased a used Honda to drive for the little amount of time I do drive.... I am going to post pictures tonight in the for sale section. But wanted to thank everyone here for the help so far...
I have hired a lawyer here in NY and plan to do the same in Cali, as well as contacted the proper authorities for fraud to go after the seller... I found where he purchased the car from and it states on the ad, CAR IS A RESTORATION CAR… The guy flat out lied to me, and one day karma will catch up to him…

Thanks again!

Sorry to hear this happened to you. Unfortunately, this business has lots of unscrupulous people. There is one particular chrome vendor out of So. Cal. I could tell stories about.

Sorry that this guy is a scum bag. You really have to watch yourself.

Wovenweb- what's the name of the company?

pictures?

I met them at the San Antonio Autorama. They travel around to swap meets, etc. They change the name they use for their business, sometimes they just call themselves Chrome, other times A-1 Chrome. They do have product on hand but the issue comes when they say they have something back at their shop. That's when this happens:

Chrome from Ripoff Report

This sucks lonny. I was just totaling up what I have in my firebird. It hurts to see how much went into it. I was expecting to sink funds into it just not all at once. It has been 'under the knife' for 9 months. Still ain't perfect but its something.

I too was also told my firebird was good to go as a driver. Looked and ran fine but within a few weeks the car needed a new motor (overheating, hard to start, dead cylinders). Honestly, I think this hobby has many who have 'learned the hard way'. Sorry it had to happen this way for someone in your situation. I hope all works out.

Stroke that is exactly why I am going to take the hit now rather then later.
I am trying to post photos but can't figure out how... Any insites?

I usually cut and past the code (link ultimately) from a photo hosting website. I use photobucket.

Here is the link... Car

Not trying to be a vulture here but got any interest in parting some things out to try and recoup some losses? I will give you a fair penny plus a little to help out your situation for the steering wheel.

Does anyone know what those things go for? I have seen reproductions go for like $400.

I was going to search for one a little later but seems Lonny could use the cash.

thanks for the offer, but i want to keep it in tact for the next owner who will hopefully turn it into the car it should be....

If you change your mind down the road. Please see my private message (under "my Stuff") for contact info.

The '68 Deluxe wheel is a one year only wheel exclusive to Firebirds. There are no reproductions that I am aware of. Most of the ones you find have cracks along the base that need to be filled,. There are threads here and elsewhere on how to do it yourself. The other level of fix is having it recast, that will run between $12 and $1500. I have seen bad ones for use as cores for recasting go as high as $200, with the center cap going for between $50 and $100.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1968-Firebird-Convertible-V-8-350-/281367377154?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&forcerrptr=true&hash=item4182cd7502&item=281367377154&nma=true&si=2W4NKLDKuQkJQExyXzWcs9IpE3k%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557


That is the link to the Car you bought. Your first post was asking what an F-body is. Most people that are into these cars are enthusiasts for the most part. OR they are older guys that just want to relive their youth and have the money to buy one already restored. I would consider myself a firebird lover and have feel bad that you got taken advantage of. I've noticed that when certain people try to sell cars they become dumb. what I mean is they either omit certain things or simply "dont know." Also beware one persons mint condition is not exactly yours.

I highly doubt you will have ANY legal recourse, there are NO warranties and once the money changes hands its a done deal. In the future buy from a reputable online dealer.

I dont ever see people make money on restored cars 9 out of 10 they get less than what was put into it.

Hope it all works out for you.!

Are the front parking lights a one or two bulb assembly?

Best of Luck Lonny:

Took a look at the auction and the pics were taken at opportune angles and did not show the true issues with the car that you purchased. Also Don't always assume (as you know now) that CA or AZ cars are not going to come with the "rust worm issues." Don't like to see this happen but this hobby brings out the best and the worst.

Kevin-

Also as to the value of your steering wheel. Even though it looks like the soy plastic is split and not repairable, the price for the next guy should be $600 to $1,000 to restore.

IMO. Keep the wheel with the car and let the next buyer sort it out. The deluxe wheel for a 1968 is like hen's teeth....they are not easily found for resale. alone in good condition.

Why in the world did you buy a 45 year old car, sight unseen, to be a daily driver to haul your infant and toddler around in ?...much less safely!

I'm with the wife on this one.

That being said, I do hope you come out OK on this.

My last old car purchase was a 64 Tempest three years ago. I talked with the guy before hand that I knew what I was getting into. I didn't pay him online. I took cash in hand and drove out their and test drove it first. I thought I looked it over all up and down and consulted with my brother (a body man). I was really riding on the fence to buy it or not. The body over all was really solid so I made the purchase and had buyers remorse the rest of the summer. There are pages of details I could wright on all the issues I found.

Fast forward 3 years and several thousands later I'm finally enjoying the car.

We all have learned hard lessons in life. Very Sorry this happened to you. I would have to agree that the pictures taken are done in a way to show it in the best possible light. The description looks to be honest. The one side picture on the ebay site takes a trained eye to see there looks to be a lot of rot. The owner took the picture pretty far away but you can see the raised paint all over. I don't think 3500 would go very far to do the body work.

My bird was basically in the same condition when I bought it. Your ebay bid really don't look that out of line for a convertible but then again I can't see how bad the metal is without looking under the car and feeling around the 1/4s. You also can't tell without looking at these cars in person if their was body/frame damage. These old cars of just downright expensive to buy, fix up and own. After I bought mine back in 93 I stuffed it away for about 5 years and worked on gathering parts. I spent a year doing metal work and another year on body work. I ended buying a rust free HT car for parts. I have a fat folder full of receipts but to scared to add it all up.

On a positive note. The bumpers look good. The interior looks pretty decent. Seems to be complete.

My Tempest in this picture has a terrible paint job with dings and scratches all over. Pic here makes it look pretty good doesn't it?

Hey just wanted to give an update... So after the seeing how the car sold, we are thinking about keeping it and doing the restore over a 2/3 year period... I am sending it to a friends shop to have it evaluated by one of his guys who specializes in restoration.
But from what i see, the front end is good, the middle and rear section is shot. It needs rail frames, rear quaters, wheel wells, truck, ect... But as long as we can do it little at a time we can manage it... Granted its probably a 15k project....
While looking up parts i found on "Classic Industries" a new floor, rear rails and trunk. My guys says it may be the most cost effective option but wanted to see what you guys thought of this... http://www.classicindustries.com/product/firebird/parts/152765.html
The engine is a 350 YJ so i know its a 68 from the research....

I think it's a good idea as long as you have the time, the funds and the will to do it. I like the fact that you are not giving up on the car. Move on and don't look back. Forget about the money you lost in your purchase of the car. You may later on be glad you kept the car. Good luck on the path forward.

I'm also glad your considering keeping it. Hardest part is getting the car. More often then not you either pay heavily to get one that nice, or you build it yourself. I'm a build it yourself guy, can't afford not to be.

Depending on what you have to work with now (floors under the car) the full pan in your link may or may not be the way to go. If your rear frame rails are bad then it may be worth going that route. I only had to replace one small section in my floor pans. All the braces that you have to deal with on a convertible is going to be a challenge. Bracing the car up is going to be needed too. Need to check your rockers to see if they are solid as well as your foot well areas. I know their are a few places that have the jigs to do a full re-skin on the first gen cars and all the good tools to it quickly. That is not to say a person can do this kind of work them self but if you have a kid at home now how much time can you put into it?

Sounds like your on the right track. Look into all your options.

Sell it and MOVE ON! If you look at my build thread. which I need to add more to it, you can See I started with a Car that was VERY nice.. All paint and body complete. No rust, 8.5 paint job. Just updating it to where I feel comfortable for the wife to drive has set me back quite a bit.

Not knocking you, but I doubt your skills will be able to do what needs to be done on the body alone. Since you are going to have someone else do it figure 8k for body work and another 6k for paint.. And for that your not going to get show quality. (10k for a show quality paint job) then a complete interior 3k then another 3k at least for suspension,brakes, etc. Then at least figure 1k for engine.

so after 3 years and 22k is it worth it? What could you buy for 35k? Anything you want is the answer. Please dont think I am being rude. Truly trying to help you out and keep you out the doghouse!